The N.C. Attorney General and N.C. Secretary of State are working together to keep a company from ripping off business owners in North Carolina.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard E. Manning Jr. granted the state's request for a temporary restraining order to keep National Business Registration, National Companies Registrar Corporation and owner Bernd A. Taubert from calling or sending invoices or collection letters to any North Carolina business.

N.C. officials say National Business Registrar sent invoices tobusinesses claiming that they failed to register with the National Corporation Registry. The company claimed businesses must register under the Federal Patriot Act. The invoices also say the company must pay $487 and provide information to avoid dissolution of their corporation.

The N.C. Secretary of State says, there is no national business registry maintained by a government on any level.

"This is a scam against North Carolina's business people, plain and simple," North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall said. "We urge everyone as strongly as we can not to send these crooks any money.”

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